World Sports News in Brief

F1 audience levels out, some races show strong growth

Formula One's global television viewing figures have levelled out but some races saw strong audience growth this year with the showcase Monaco Grand Prix leading the way, according to Nielsen Sports.

Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco - May 27, 2018 Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo leads at the start of the race. (Reuters)
Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco - May 27, 2018 Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo leads at the start of the race. (Reuters)

* Several of England’s leading soccer clubs have slashed the benefits offered to women players, and are providing them with far less protection than their male counterparts, contracts signed by players and clubs show.

* Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry staged a wet weather clinic at the World Cup of Golf on Friday to give Belgium a share of the lead with the Republic of Korea, as the top nations floundered through atrocious conditions during the second round.

* French international midfielder N'Golo Kante has committed his long-term future to Chelsea by signing a new five-year contract, the Premier League club said on Friday (Nov 23). Kante, who joined Chelsea in 2016, helped the club win the title in his first season at Stamford Bridge

* Valtteri Bottas kept up his hopes of ending the year on a high after setting the fastest lap in practice for Formula One's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Friday (Nov 24).

* Bundesliga club Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday extended the contract of coach Dieter Hecking by a year to 2020 after a strong start to the season for the Foals, who now sit second in the league.

* Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva is unavailable for Saturday's Premier League match at West Ham United after sustaining an injury on international duty, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.

* Gonzalo Higuain’s appeal against a two-match ban was rejected on Friday, leaving AC Milan without their main striker for their Serie A games against Lazio and Parma.

* Laurent Mekies will be Ferrari's Formula One sporting director next season, team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said on Friday. The last person to carry out the role was Massimo Rivola, who left in 2016.

* Borussia Dortmund have agreed to sign Barcelona striker Paco Alcacer for 23 million euros (20.36 million pounds) plus a potential 5 million euros in add-ons. The 25-year-old Spanish international has shone on loan in Germany this season, scoring nine goals in eight games for Dortmund.

* Winger DTH van der Merwe scored two tries as Canada booked their place at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan with a 27-10 victory over Hong Kong (China) in their final Repechage qualifier in Marseille, France on Friday.

* Centre-back Jason Denayer headed home a second-half winner as 10-man Lyon edged to a 1-0 derby win over bitter rivals Saint-Etienne on Friday to take second place in Ligue 1.

* Kenyan world 800 metres bronze medallist Kipyegon Bett has been handed a four-year ban for doping. Bett, 20, refused to allow a urine sample to be taken in February and then in July, when a sample was taken, he tested positive for the prohibited substance Erythropoeitin (EPO), an endurance-boosting hormone, the IAAF Athletics Integrity Unit said on Friday.

Reuters, CNA